Golf ball holder

ABSTRACT

The golf ball holder generally consisting of an inverted, U-shaped member providing a pair of depending leg sections, one of the leg sections being insertable between a waistband of the clothing of the user and the body of the user, and the other of the leg sections having at least one upwardly opening recess for receiving a golf ball therein, the surface of the recess having a set of protuberances engageable by a golf ball inserted in the recess, an interference-fit relation for retaining said golf ball therein.

This invention relates to a golf ball holder and more particularly to a golf ball holder attachable to the wearing apparel of a user and functional to provide easy and convenient access to balls carried by such holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, there are a great number of devices for holding golf balls. A particularly useful holder is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,061 in which the holder is adapted to be attached to the waistband of the user, and a pair of golf balls is adapted to be carried in a pair of recesses provided in a laterally projecting portion of the holder. Each of the surfaces of the recesses in such holder is semispherically configured, having a surface area including a lower portion having a first radius of curvature, and an upper portion having a second radius curvature slightly less than the first radius of curvature to provide an interference-fit for a ball received and supported within the recess. Such configuration of each recess is effective in retaining a ball in the recess during various movements of the user which otherwise would have the effect of causing the ball to become unseated. Such balls are adapted to be unseated and removed from such holders by extending a finger through a hole provided in the lower end of the recess, to engage and dislodge the ball, and then grasping the ball as it is ejected from the recess.

Although the holder as described is highly effective and convenient in use, because of the particular configuration of the recesses thereof, the manufacturing of such holders is comparatively more difficult and expensive. Typically, such holders are formed of a plastic material and are injection molded. Such molding requires tooling having forming surfaces configured similar to the surfaces of the holder. Because of the more complex configurations of the recesses of the holder, greater precision and closer tolerances are required which has the effect of requiring more expensive tooling.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a golf ball holder of the type described, having a configuration suitable for retaining balls in the recesses provided therein which requires less expensive tooling and thus is more economical to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the invention in providing a golf ball holder which is more economical to manufacture is achieved by providing a holder generally consisting of an inverted, U-shaped member providing a pair of depending leg sections, one of the leg sections being insertable between the waistband of the clothing of a user and the body of the user, and the other of the leg sections having at least one upwardly opening recess for receiving a golf ball therein, the surface of the recess having a set of protuberances engageable by a golf ball inserted in the recess, in interference-fit relation for retaining the golf ball therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a single golf ball being supported and retained in one of the recesses therein;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, having the golf ball shown in FIG. 1 removed from one of the recesses;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a golf ball holder 10 which is adapted to be worn on the apparel of a user, and carry and retain a pair of golf balls. The holder consists of a member 11 having a generally inverted, U-shaped configuration, providing a pair of depending legs 12 and 13. Leg section 12 has a generally downwardly converging configuration and is adapted to be inserted between the waistband and the body of the user or alternatively between the waistband and a belt of the user, to firmly attach the holder. Leg section 13 is shorter than and spaced from leg section 12, and includes a laterally projecting tray portion 14. Formed integrally at the ends of the tray portion is a pair of cup-shaped, ball supporting segments 15 and 16 providing a pair of upwardly opening recesses 17 and 18. Each of such recesses is provided with a semispherically configured surface having a radius equal to or slightly less than the diameter of a golf ball. As best shown in FIG. 4, the lower ends of segments 15 and 16 are provided with openings 19 and 20 which communicate with recesses 17 and 18, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the upper, spherical surfaces of recesses 17 and 18 are provided with a set of circumferentially spaced, inwardly projecting protuberances 21, each set of which is adapted to engage a golf ball inserted within a recess, in interference-fit relation, to removably retain a ball within the recess. One or more of such protuberances may be provided although it is preferred to provide three of such protuberances in each recess, spaced 120° apart. Each of the protuberances may have a converging configuration as shown in FIG. 5 or any other configuration suitable to engage a ball inserted into the recess in interference-fit relation.

In the use of the holder as described, it simply may be gripped in one hand and attached to the attire of the user simply by inserting leg section 12 between the waistband and body or the waistband and belt of the user, and shoved downwardly until the bight portion of the holder engages the upper edge of the waistband or belt of the user. Once thus attached to the apparel of the user, a pair of golf balls may be inserted in recesses 17 and 18 and pressed downwardly to be engaged and retained in interference-fit relation by the inwardly projecting protuberances. With the holder thus attached, the user may exercise any number of movements including walking, bending over, swinging a golf club and the like without having either of the golf balls carried by the holder being jarred loose and falling to the ground where they may become lost. Whenever the user decides to use one of the balls, perhaps for teeing off, he or she may readily obtain access to the ball by gripping the ball seated in one of the recesses with one hand, inserting a finger of the one hand through the bottom opening of the ball supporting segment to free the ball from the engagement with the protuberances, and then grasping the ball with the hand as it is freed from the recess.

As an added convenience to the user, laterally extending portion 14 between leg section 13 and the ball support segments, is provided with several openings 22 for receiving and holding several tees, as shown in FIG. 1. Such portion further is provided with an elongated opening 23 for receiving and holding divot tool, also as shown in FIG. 1.

Preferably, the holder is formed as an integral unit by injection molding of a plastic material such as polypropylene. The tooling for such unit would be comparatively simple to design and make. No precise combination of curvatures of recesses 17 and 18 would be required, unduly increasing the cost of the tooling. Each of the recesses may be formed of a single radius of curvature and the protuberances may readily be formed by providing suitable recesses in the forming tool. In the selection of the material in forming the holder, a material having sufficient flexture is selected to permit an interference-fit of the ball in each of the recesses. The material selected, however, should be sufficiently light weight so that it may comfortably be attached to the apparel of the user and not interfere with the normal movements of the user.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention, which come within the province of those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned invention pertains. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims. 

1. A golf ball holder functional to be worn on the person of a user, comprising: an inverted, U-shaped member providing a pair of depending leg sections, one of said leg sections being insertable between a waistband of the clothing of said user and the body of said user, and the other of said leg sections having at least one recess for receiving a golf ball therein, the surface of said recess having a set of protuberances engageable by a golf ball inserted in said recess in interference-fit relation for retaining said golf ball therein.
 2. A holder according to claim 1 wherein said protuberances are disposed in a plane disposed perpendicular to an axis and are spaced circumferentially relative to said axis.
 3. A holder according to claim 1 wherein said member is injection molded.
 4. A holder according to claim 1 wherein said member is formed of a plastic material.
 5. A holder according to claim 1 wherein said member is formed of polypropylene.
 6. A holder according to claim 1 wherein said recess is provided with an opening at a lower end thereof.
 7. A holder according to claim 1 wherein said recess is provided with a substantially semispherical configuration having a radius substantially the same as the radius of a golf ball.
 8. A holder according to claim 1 wherein said protuberances are disposed on a surface of said recess and are arcuately spaced.
 9. A holder according to claim 7 wherein said protuberances lie in a plane disposed perpendicular to the axis of the surface of said recess, and are circumferentially spaced.
 10. A holder according to claim 9 wherein said protuberances are spaced 120° apart.
 11. A holder according to claim 9 wherein said protuberances are disposed about an edge of the surface of said recess.
 12. A holder according to claim 9 wherein said member is provided with an opening intercommunicating said recess and the exterior thereof.
 13. A holder according to claim 1 wherein one of said leg sections is provided with a laterally projecting portion and wherein said recess is disposed in a surface of said laterally projecting portion.
 14. A holder according to claim 13 wherein said laterally projecting portion is provided with at least one opening therethrough for receiving a golf tee therein in supporting relation.
 15. A holder according to claim 13 wherein said laterally projection portion is provided with an opening therethrough for receiving a divot tool in supporting relation. 